“Sixth, consider when thou art much vexed or grieved, that man’s life is only a moment, and after a short time we are all laid out dead.” Meditations Chapter 11 Rule #6
Nothing says Merry Christmas like contemplating my death. Continue reading
Like today, my tendency as an eighth grader was towards timidity, peacefulness, and reflection. I feared conflict, I was generally non-aggressive. When my friend, John, encouraged me to play high school football, at first I was confused. I didn’t consider myself particularly burly, fast or mean…you know, the football type, but he persisted. As a football coach’s son, he already had a knack of finding football talents in those who didn’t think they had it. He would later become a high school football coach himself (he was born to do it). Anyway, I wasn’t alone on his recruiting list. Once he recruited me, I helped him make sure that the talented prospects in our town came out and played some football. During the years I played, our high school had some of its most successful seasons, due at least in part, to his recruiting and mentoring efforts.
However, let me return to my individual situation. Continue reading
I will soon return to my discussion on the Three Yes’s on My Deathbed. For now, though I simply share an internal struggle that I am currently waging.
I am currently faced with several deadlines of some projects that I must complete. Each of these projects requires a solitary, inward toil and deep personal, undistracted thought. In short, I must focus on the work alone Continue reading
From Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, book 1:
“In my father I observed mildness of temper, and unchangeable resolution in the things which he had determined after due deliberation; and no vainglory in those things which men call honours; and a love of labour and perseverance; and a readiness to listen to those who had anything to propose for the common weal; and undeviating firmness in giving to every man according to his deserts; and a knowledge derived from experience of the occasions for vigorous action and for remission. Continue reading
For Father’s Day, I thought I would contemplate 10 lessons that I learned from my father. My relationship with him is good, and he is still alive and kicking. Like many sons, I generally don’t convey those things I appreciate about him often enough and tend to focus on the negatives far too often. The negatives are minor things, annoyances really, which means that I’ve been quite lucky to have a dad like him. So here they are. Continue reading